Govt to ban killer trucks with protruding rods

In an move to tackle a growing road menace, the Centre has decided to ban vehicles which have iron and steel rods protruding dangerously out of them.

“We have decided to amend the Central Motor Vehicles Rules (CMVR), 1989 and ban vehicles from carrying any object protruding out of the vehicles’ body frame, even if it is less than a metre. Such objects should be carried within compact containers,” said a senior road ministry official.

The proposed amendment will do away with a proviso in section 93(8) of the CMVR that allows goods vehicles to carry poles or rods as long as the projecting parts do not exceed one metre beyond the vehicle’s rear-most point.

“Though CMVR allowed vehicles to carry objects up to one metre beyond the vehicles body frame, the rule was blatantly violated. Such vehicles hardly used sufficient signs to warn motorists. So we have decided to do away with this provision,” said an official.

The ministry has taken the first step and issued a draft notification to effect the ban.

Last year alone, 9,087 people were killed and 29,573 were injured in accidents related to load — including iron and steel rods/pipe — protruding out of vehicles. Maharashtra reported the maximum accidents — 4,615 — followed by Uttar Pradesh (3,572) and Andhra Pradesh (3,375).

The move comes shortly after the Supreme Court asked the Centre for an explanation on a PIL seeking a ban on trucks and trailers carrying iron rods protruding dangerously and parked without any blinkers to warn vehicles coming from behind.